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CURRICULUM VITAE

ALI O. AZGHANI, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology Office: (903) 566-7332

University of Texas at Tyler Lab: (903) 566-7259

3900 University Blvd Fax: (903) 566-7189

Tyler, Texas 75799 aazghani@uttyler.edu

http://www.uttyler.edu/biology/faculty/

ACADEMIC BACKBGOUND

Ph.D. 1986, Radiation Microbiology, Texas Woman’s University (TWU), Denton, TX

M.Sc. 1981, Microbiology, TWU

B.Sc. 1972, Medical Technology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Fellow, Pulmonary Injury, 1986-1988, University of Texas Health Science Center, Tyler, Texas

(UTHSCT)

EMPLOYMENT

2015– Present Professor of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler (UTT)

2005 – 2015 Associate Professor, UTT

2005 - Present Adjunct Faculty, Biomedical Research, University of Texas Health Science Center, Tyler,

Texas (UTHSCT)

1998 - 2005 Assistant Professor of Medicine, UTHSCT

1996 - 1998 Director, Research Projects, Infinity Care, Inc., Tyler, Texas

1992 - 1996 Assistant Professor, Biomedical Research, UTHSCT

1989 - 1992 Instructor, Department of Biochemistry, UTHSCT

1986 - 1989 Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Biochemistry, UTHSCT

1979 - 1985 Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Biology, TWU

1972 - 1976 Medical Technologist, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Tehran, Iran

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2005 - Present University of Texas at Tyler

1994 - 2004 Adjunct Faculty, UTT

1990 -1992 Adjunct Faculty, Jarvis Christian College, Tyler, TX.

1988 -1990 Adjunct Faculty, Tyler Junior College

1978 - 1984 Teaching Assistant, TWU

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Courses currently taught at UTT

BIOL 2301 Anatomy and Physiology I & II ; BIOL 2201 Anatomy and Physiology Lab I &II

BIOL 1106 General Biology Lab I & II; BIOL 4350 Immunology; BIOL 4199 Bacterial Pathogenesis

BIOL 5383 Host-Pathogen Interaction; BIOL 5380 Cellular Physiology; BIOL 5193 Graduate

Seminar; BIOL 5199 Cell Signaling; BIOL 5396 Thesis, Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of

Bacterial Pathogenesis and Therapeutics.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

I. Hepatitis E Seroprevalence Study in canis lupis familiaris and Associations to Human Owners.

Sporadic, acute Hepatitis E is emerging more frequently in humans in the developed world, even in

Texas. HEV may be more abundant in humans and other animals than we realize. One U.S. human

seroprevalence survey found HEV IgG rates of 21%. Many theorize a zoonotic nature of transmission as

antibodies have been detected in a wide range of mammals. For instance, a recent study found 40% HEV

prevalence in laboratory rabbits. Current thinking from USDA and CDC places suspicion on feral pigs.

This collaborative project is designed to study the prevalence of HEV in East Texas and the role of

domestic doges in emerging of this zoonotic disease.

II. Liposomal antibiotics in Infection Therapy

Liposomes are emerging as a preferred drug carrier to combat antibiotic resistant strains due to their

ability to fuse with the prokaryotic cell membrane as the endpoint of their carrier function. In this project,

we investigate the efficacy of this alternate method on microbial adhesion, which is accepted as a

prerequisite to P. aeruginosa colonization and infection. Using A549 pulmonary epithelial cells, we

quantify P. aeruginosa adhesions to host cells using fluorescence microscopy and colony forming unit

assay. The ultimate goal is to safely eliminate bacterial infections caused by organism resistant to

conventional drugs. Our hypothesis for this line of research is that the use of liposomal antibiotics as

opposed to conventional methods will augment the existing antibiotics ability to efficiently inhibit the

adherence of P. aeruginosa to human lung cells and therefore decrease susceptibility to infection.

III. Therapeutics for Pulmonary Inflammatory disease- We are investigating the efficacy of both free

and liposomal erythromycin in reducing inflammation in human alveolar cells. Using human A549 cells,

we model inflammation and the immunomodulatory effects of erythromycin. We use an ELISA to

determine exact concentrations of various mediators of inflammation including IL-8 and TNFα. Our

ultimate goal is to understand the inflammatory process set forth by structural cells of the lungs in an

effort to provide more options for relieving inflammation in the pulmonary system.

IV. Cellular Mechanism of Pulmonary edema- Pseudomonas aeruginosa frequently infects patients

with cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised individuals. One of the first steps in pulmonary injury is the

loss of epithelium integrity; which is followed by inflammation and edema. Previous reports from our lab

indicate that P. aeruginosa elastase (PE) activates host cells’ signal transduction pathways that, in part,

contribute to tight junction disruption. The exact mechanism of epithelial disruption, however, is not yet

fully understood. We investigate the role of cell receptors and signaling cascades in PE-induced

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modification of Tight Junction organization and epithelial barrier integrity. An in vitro model of human

pulmonary epithelial cell (Calu-3) grown on tissue culture inserts are utilized in this project.

V. Plasminogen Activator inhibitor (PAI-1) activity as a biomarker and target for therapeutic

intervention. Pleural loculation or scarring in the pleural space is now difficult to treat and is associated

with poor outcomes. As a member of a research team at UTHSCT, we identified PAI-1 activity as a

biomarker and target for therapeutic intervention. Our ultimate goal is to identify a novel PAI-1-targeted

intrapleural fibrinolytic therapeutic, which we will advance to IND-enabling work in anticipation of near-

term clinical trial testing to provide better, safer treatment for patients with pleural loculation.

PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS (44)

Students’ publications are in Italics

1. Andrey A. Komissarov, Galina Florova, Ali O Azghani, Ann Buchanan, Jake

Boren, Timothy Craig Allen, Najib M. Rahman, Kathleen Koenig, Mignote

Chamiso, Sophia Karandashova, James Henry, Steven Idell. 2016. Dose dependency of

outcomes of intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy in new rabbit empyema models. Am J Physiol - Lung

Cell Mol Physiol. 311, 2, p. 389-399.

2. Komissarov AA, Florova G, Azghani AO, Buchanan A, Bradley WM, Schaefer C, Koenig K, Idell

S. The time course of resolution of adhesions during fibrinolytic therapy in tetracycline-induced

pleural injury in rabbits. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2015

3. Florova G, Azghani A, Karandashova S, Schaefer C, Koenig K, Stewart-Evans K, Declerck PJ,

Idell S, Komissarov AA. Targeting of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 improves fibrinolytic

therapy for tetracycline-induced pleural injury in rabbits. Am J Respir Cell Mol

Biol. 2015 Apr;52(4):429-37

4. Ali Azghani, Kourtney Neal, Steven Idell, Rodolfo Amaro, Jason W. Baker, Abdelwahab Omri, and

Usha R. Pendurthi. 2014. Mechanism of Fibroblasts Inflammatory Response to Pseudomonas

aeruginosa Elastase. Microbiology, 160, 547-555.

5. Andrey A. Komissarov, Galina Florova, Ali Azghani, Sophia Karandashova, Anna K. Kurdowska,

and Steven Idell. 2013. Active α-macroglobulin is a reservoir for urokinase after fibrinolytic therapy

in rabbits with tetracycline-induced pleural injury and in human pleural fluids. A J. Physiol, Lung

Cell and Molecular Physiol. (305): L682-L692.

6. Moayad Alhariri, Ali Azghani, Abdelwahab Omri. 2013. Liposomal Antibiotics for the Treatment

of Infectious Diseases. Expert Opin. Drug Deliv. 10(11): 1-18.

7. Karandashova S, Florova G, Azghani AO, Komissarov AA, Koenig K, Tucker TA, Allen TC,

Stewart K, Tvinnereim A,0 Idell S. 2013. Intrapleural adenoviral delivery of human plasminogen

activator inhibitor-1 exacerbates tetracycline-induced pleural injury in rabbits. Am J Respir Cell

Mol Biol. 48(1): 44-52.

8. Curtis A. Clark, Lauren K. Thomas, and Ali O. Azghani. 2011. Inhibition of PKC attenuates

Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase-induced epithelial barrier disruption. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol.

45: 1263-1271.

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9. Azghani, Ali. 2010. The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology and the New Clinical Research

Order. The Monitor, 24(1): 25-28.

10. Alipour M, Suntres ZE, Halwani M, Azghani AO, Omri A. 2009. Activity and interactions of

liposomal antibiotics in presence of polyanions and sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis. PLoS

One, 4(5): e5724.

11. Halwani M, Hebert S, Suntres ZE, Lafrenie RM, Azghani AO, Omri A. 2009. Bismuththiol

incorporation enhances biological activities of liposomal tobramycin against bacterial biofilm and

quorum sensing molecules production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Int J Pharm. 21;373(1-2): 141-

6.

12. Halwani, M, B. Yebio1, Z. E. Suntres, M. Alipour, A. O. Azghani, and A. Omri1, 2008.Co-

encapsulation of gallium with gentamicin in liposomes enhances antimicrobial activity of

gentamicin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 62(6):

1291-7.

13. Halwani, M, Shanna Blomme , Zacharias E. Suntres, Misagh Alipour, Ali O. Azghani, Aseem

Kumar, Abdelwahab Omri. 2008. Liposomal Bismuth-Ethanedithiol Formulation Enhances

Antimicrobial Activity of Tobramycin. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2008, 358(1-2):

254-63.

14. Idell S, Azghani A, Chen S, Koenig K, Mazar A, Kodandapani L, Bdeir K, Cines D, Kulikovskaya

I, Allen T. 2007. Intrapleural low-molecular-weight urokinase or tissue plasminogen activator

versus single-chain urokinase in tetracycline-induced pleural loculation in rabbits. Exp Lung Res.

33(8): 419-40.

15. Yarlagadda, B, N. Subramanian, and A. Azghani. 2007. Artificial Neural Network-Based

Estimation for Pseudomonas aeruginosa Experiments. IEEE Proceedings, 1-4244, 133-137.

16. Alipour Mr., Zacharias E. Suntres, Aseem Kumar, Marina Ulinova, Ali O. Azghani and

Abdelwahab Omri. 2007. Antimicrobial Properties of Liposomal Aminoglycosides. Journal of

Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

17. Steven Idell, Timothy Allen, Shande Chen, Kathy Koenig, Andrew Mazar and Ali Azghani. 2007.

Intrapleural activation, processing, efficacy, and evolving tetracycline-induced pleural injury in

rabbits. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 292: 25-32.

18. Majed Halwani, Clement Mugabe, Ali O. Azghani, Robert M. Lafrenie, Aseem Kumar and

Abdelwahab Omri. 2007. Bactericidal Efficacy of Liposomal-Aminoglycosides against Burkholderia

cepacia. J Antimicrob Chemother. 60(4): 760-9.

19. Mugabe C, Azghani AO, Omri A. 2007. Preparation and characterization of dehydration-

rehydration vesicles loaded with aminoglycoside and macrolide antibiotics. Journal of

Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 60(4): 760-9. 2007.

20. Morrow, D.M,, Tahereh Entezari-Zaher, John Romashko II, Ali O. Azghani, Mohammad Javdan,

Luis Ulloa, Edmund J. Miller, and Lin L. Mantell. 2007. Antioxidants preserve macrophage

phagocytosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa during hyperoxia. Free Radical Biology and Medicine

42(9), 2007.

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21. Mugabe, M. Halwani, A. O. Azghani, R. M. Lafrenie, A. Omri. 2006. Mechanism of Enhanced

Activity of Liposome-Entrapped Aminoglycosides against Resistant Strains of Pseudomonas

aeruginosa. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 6; 50: 2016-2022

22. Sachar, P., N. Subramanian, and A. Azghani. 2006. A Knowledge Base for Biological Experiments.

Proceedings of the IEEE Sixth Annual Emerging Information Technology Conference, Dallas, TX.

23. Gavin Rukholm, Clement Mugabe, Ali O. Azghani, and Abdelwahab Omri. 2006. Antibacterial

activity of liposomal gentamicin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a time–kill study. International

Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 27: 247–252.

24. Clement Mugabe, Ali O. Azghani, Abdelwahab Omri. 2006. Preparation and

Characterization of Dehydration-Rehydration Vesicles Loaded Aminoglycoside and Macrolide

Antibiotics. Int. Journal of Pharmaceutics, 307: 244–250.

25. Clement Mugabe, Ali O. Azghani, and Abdelwahab Omri, 2005. Liposome-Mediated Gentamicin

Delivery: Development and Activity against Resistant Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated

from Cystic Fibrosis Patients. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 55: 269-271.

26. Shawn Rossi, Ali O. Azghani and Abdelwahab Omri. 2004. Antimicrobial efficacy of a new

antibiotic-loaded poly (hydroxybutyric-co-hydroxyvalaric acid) controlled release system. Journal

of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 54, 1013-1018.

27. Ashraf I. Zahra, Ali O. Azghani, Jason W. Baker, Siegfried Pueblitz, Anna Kurdowska, and Steven

Idell. 2004. Experimental Acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pneumonia in Rabbits. The Medical

Journal of Teaching Hospitals & Institutes, Egypt, 61: 49-60.

28. Ashraf I. Zahra, Steven Idell, Ali Azghani, Mamdouh Sallam, Hosny el Sallab. 2004, Inflammation

and Infection in Cardiothoracic Patients. The Medical Journal of Teaching Hospitals & Institutes,

Egypt, 2004, 61, 19-45.

29. Azghani, A.O., Steven Idell, Manjeet Bains, and Robert E.W. Hancock. 2002. Pseudomonas

aeruginosa outer membrane protein F is an adhesin in bacterial binding to lung epithelial cells in

culture. Microbial Pathogenesis 33:109-14.

30. Azghani, A.O., Jason W. Baker, Sreerama Shetty, Ed J. Miller, and G. Jayarama Bhat. 2002.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase stimulates ERK signaling pathway and enhances IL-8 production

by alveolar epithelial cells in culture. Inflammation Research 51 (10): 506 – 510.

31. Shetty, Sreerama, Usha R. Pendurthi, Prathap K. Shetty Halady, Ali O. Azghani, and Steven Idell.

2002. Urokinase induces its own expression in Beas2B lung epithelial cells. Am. J. Physiology,

Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology; 283: L319-L328.

32. Steven Idell M.D., Ph.D., Andrew Mazar Ph.D., Douglas Cines M.D., Graham Parry Ph.D., Susan

Gawlak, Jose Juarez M.S., Kathy Koenig, Ali Azghani Ph.D., Will Hadden D.V.M., Jerry McLarty

Ph.D. and Edmund Miller Ph.D. 2002. Intrapleural Single-chain Urokinase Alone or Complexed to

its Soluble Receptor Protects Against Pleural Adhesions in Tetracycline-induced Pleuritis in

Rabbits. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 166: 920–926

33. Azghani, A.O., Miller E.J., and Peterson, B.T. 2000. Virulence factors from Pseudomonas

aeruginosa increase lung epithelial permeability. Lung, 178: 261-269.

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34. Azghani, A.O. and T.F. Bedinghaus, T.F. and Klein, R. 2000. Detection of Elastase from

Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Sputum and its potential Role in Epithelial Permeability. Lung, 178:

181-189.

35. Obiso, Jr., R.J., Azghani, A.O., and Wilkins, T.D. 1997. Bacteriodes fragilis Disrupts the tight

junctions of epithelial cells lines. Infection & Immunity. 65: 1431-1439.

36. Azghani, A.O. 1996. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and epithelial permeability: role of virulence

factors, elastase and exotoxin A. Am. J. Res. Cell & Ml. Biol. 15:132-140.

37. Azghani, A.O., Williams, I.F., Holiday, D.B., and Johnson, A. R. 1995. Inhibition of adherence of

Pseudomonas aeruginosa to lung epithelial cells. Glycobiology, 5: 39-44.

38. Azghani, A.O., Gray, L.T., and Johnson, A.R., 1993. Bacterial elastase perturbs paracellular barrier

functions in a cultured transporting epithelium. Infection Immunity. 61: 2681-686.

39. Azghani, A.O., Kondepudi, A.Y., and Johnson, A.R. 1992. Interaction of Pseudomonas

aeruginosa with human lung fibroblasts: role of bacterial elastase. Am. J. Respir. Cell and Mol.

Biol. 6: 652-657.

40. Peterson, B.T., Collins, M.L., Gray, L.D., and Azghani, A.O., 1992. Aerosolized Pseudomonas

elastase and lung fluid balance in anesthetized sheep. J. Appl. Physiology 72: 1927-1933.

41. Azghani, A.O., Connelly, J.C., Peterson, B. T., Gray, L.D., Collins, M.L., and Johnson, A.R., 1990.

Effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase on alveolar epithelial permeability in guinea pigs.

Infection & Immunity, 58: 433-438.

42. Garcia, Joe G.N., Azghani, A.O., Callahan, K.S., and Johnson, A.R. 1988. Effects of platelet

activating factor on leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions. Thromb. Res. 51: 83-96.

43. Azghani, A.O. and Fuerst, R., 1988. Studies of antibiotic resistant mutants of Bacteroides fragilis

obtained by Cs-137 ionizing radiation. J. Ind. Microbiol. 3: 299-304.

44. Azghani, A.O. and Fuerst, R., 1982. Effects of gamma irradiation on Pseudomonas aeruginosa

antibiotic susceptibility. Dev. Ind. Microbiol. 123: 579-585.

MANUSCRIPTS SUBMITTED or in PREPARATION

1. Galina Florova, Ali Azghani, Sophia Karandashova, Chris Schaefer, Serge Yarovoi, Paul J.

Declerck, Douglas Cines, Steven Idell, and Andrey A. Komissarov. 2006.The rate of fibrinolysis

determines the selection of the mechanism for targeting plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in

tetracycline-induced pleural injury in rabbits. Submitted to J. Biol. Chem., July 2016.

2. Omar Castillo, Beatriz Calvo, Halima Farooq, and Ali Azghani. Pseudomonas aeruginosa

elastase modifies tight junction proteins via an EGFR dependent pathway. Microbiology

3. Bidisha Pal and Ali Azghani. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Elastase Disturbs Actin Filament

Dynamics via the RhoA- Mediated Signaling. Am J Resp Cell Mol Biol.

4. Majed A. Majrashi, Moyad Alhariri , Ali O Azghani , Mohammad A. Khiyami, Ali H. Bahkaly ,

Essam J. Alyamani, and Majed A. Halwani.. Increasing gentamicin encapsulation load enhaces

efficacy of liposomal formulations against pathogens.

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BOOK CHAPTERS

1. Azghani, A.O. and Curtis Clark. 2011. Bacterial Infection Process: An overview. Infection and

Immunity. Transworld Research Network

2. Alipour M, Zacharias E. Suntres, Ali O. Azghani, and Abdlewahab Omri. 2008. Pulmonary

infection in Cystic Fibrosis: Role of quorum-sensing. Recent Development in Signal

Transduction Research, 2008, Editors; CV Ramana, Richard I. Enelow and Aseem Kumar.

3. Omri, M.L Anderson, C. Mugabe, Z. Suntres, M. R. Mozafari, and A. Azghani. 2007. Artificial

implants–new developments and associated problems in nanomaterials and nanosystems for

biomedical applications, Springer, Volume editor: M. Reza Mozafari

4. Azghani, A.O. and Rodolfo Amaro. 2003. Molecular basis of Pseudomonas inflammation and

new therapeutic interventions in cystic fibrosis. Infection & Immunity 1:387-403; Transworld

Research Network.

5. Hector, J., Azghani, A.O., and Johnson, A.R. 1993. Genetic regulations of elastase in P.

aeruginosa, pp. 145-162. In “Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunity,” edited by M. Campa et al,

Plenum Press, New York.

RECENT ABSTRACTS / PRESENTATIONS

1. Andrew Griffin, Andrea Grzybowski, William Sorensen, Sharon Phillips, and Ali Azghani. 2016

Seroprevalence of Canine HEV in Smith County, Texas. TriBeta Regional Conference 2016,

2. Galina Florova, Andrey A. Komissarov, Ali O. Azghani, Ann Buchanan, Jake Boren, Chris

Schaefer, Kathleen Koenig, and Steven Idell. Validation of a Novel Rabbit S. pneumoniae Model

of Empyema and Responses to Intrapleural Fibrinolytic Therapy with tPA or scuPA. ATS 2016.

3. Galina Florova, Ali O. Azghani, Sophia Karandashova, Chris Schaefer, Serge V. Yarovoi, Paul J.

Declerck, Douglas B. Cines, Steven Idell, and Andrey A. Komissarov. The slow rate of fibrinolyisis

limits inhibitor selection when targeting plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 to enhance intrapleural

fibrinolytic therapy. ATS 2016.

4. Bidisha Pal and Ali Azghani. Mechanism of Pseudomonas Elastase- Induced Cytoskeleton

Remodeling. American Society for Microbiology, Texas Branch. April 2015

5. Steven Idell, Ali Azghani, Chris Schaefer, Andrey A. Komissarov, William Bradley,Kahtleen

Koenig, Ann Buchanan, Galina Florova. Remodeling of Tetracycline-Induced Pleural Injury in

Rabbits after Intrapleural Fibrinolytic Therapy. International meeting of American Thoracic

Society, May 2015.

6. Galina Florova, Ali Azghani, Chris Schaefer, Serge Yarovoi, Sophia Karandashova,Douglas B.

Cines, Steven Idell, Andrey A. Komissarov. A Nearly 100-Fold Decrease in the Rate of the

Reaction Between Urokinase and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 Does Not Improve the

Outcome of Fibrinolytic Therapy of Tetracycline Induced Pleural Injury in Rabbits. International

meeting of American Thoracic Society, May 2015.

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NON-PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Azghani, Ali O, 2004. Professional Achievements of Dr. Robert Fuerst. ASM news 70 (8): 376.

Azghani, Ali O, 2003. Pharmacogenomics and Anti-infective Drugs Discovery. Newsletter, Association

of Clinical Research Professional, North Texas Chapter, 6 (1): 2.

Azghani, Ali O, 2002. Gene Therapy. Newsletter, Association of Clinical Research Professional, North

Texas Chapter, 5(2): 2.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL GRANT- Current (4)

Proposals funded

1. UTT, Internal Research Support Program (IRSP), Azghani, $3,700.0,

2. UTT, Collaborative grant, Academic Innovation and Student Success (CRIA), Azghani and

Sorenson, $5,000.00.

3. LSAMP Undergraduate Student Research, $4,500.00.

4. TriBeta Undergraduate Research Grant ($400.00), Spencer Shastid.

5. UTT Co-curricular Travel Grants ($1,500) for student presentations at:

a) ASM, Texas for research students at Dr. Azghani’s lab

b) TriBeta Regional conference, OK, for Biology Honor Society members

Pending Proposals

2017-18 Fulbright US Scholar Program PI, Prevalence of multiple drug resistant bacteria in Baku,

Azerbaijan.

2016- 2021 NIH, Co- Investigator, Delivery of PAI-1-targeted intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy for

empyema, PI: Andrey Komissarov, UTHSC.

INVITED SEMINARS

I. International (4)

2016 Khazar University, Azerbaijan, My 9 -13, 2016. Emerging Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria.

2012 East Mediterranean University, Cyprus (EMU). Mechanism of Epithelial Barrier Disruption by

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its Consequences. Dec 18, 2012

2012 EMU. Strategies for Team-Based Scientific Teaching. Dec. 19, 2012

2009 Laurentian University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montreal,

Canada. Mechanism of ERK 1/2 Activation in Pseudomonal Infection”

1993 International Congress of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Tabriz, Iran

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II. National (18)

2014 Gulf Coast Summer Institute, July 23-25, 2014, LSU, LA. “Lessons Learned from

Student-Centered Teaching”

ASM, Texas Fall meeting 2014, Strategies for Team-Based Scientific Teaching.

UTT biology seminar series, Oct 10, 2014. Pathogenesis and Treatment of P. aeruginosa

Infection: Past, Present, and Future.

2013 CCRI: Faculty Collaborative Culminating Conference, May 16, 2013. “Scientific way of

Knowing”

2013 American Society for Microbiology, Texas Branch. Baylor University, Waco, TX

2012 ACRP Global Conference and Exhibition, April 14-17, Houston, TX

2010 Association of Clinical Research Professional (ACRP), North Texas Chapter, Dallas, TX

2009 Dept. of Biochemistry, Laurentian University, Ontario, Canada

2009 Association of Clinical Research Professional, Global Meeting, Denver, CO

2008 Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Investigators, International Meeting, Boston, MA.

2008 American Society for Microbiology, Texas Branch Spring Meeting, Austin, TX

2007 Association of Clinical Research Professionals, International Meeting, Seattle, WA

2006 Association of Clinical Research Professionals, Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ

2005 Association of Clinical Research Professionals North Texas Chapter, Dallas, TX

2003 Dept. of Surgery, North Shore - LIJ Research Institute, Manhasset, NY

2002 Board of Directors, Smith County Division of the American Heart Association, Tyler, TX

1996 Dept. of Biochemistry & Anaerobic Micro, Virginia Institute and State University

1995 Dept. of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler (UTT)

1993 Dept. of Pulmonary & Critical Care Med, UT Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX

1993 International Congress of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Tabriz, Iran

Community and Local Schools

2016 Mentoring the winners of NASA’s Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SEEP) at

Bullard High School. The winning project, “The Effects of Microgravity on S.

Tuberosum Resistance to P. infestans,” will be flown to the international Space Station

aboard Mission 9 in Fall 2016. Four students preparing the space module and running the

earth portion of the experiment in Azghani lab.

2014 Organized a “Hereditary Cancer Public Awareness” Meeting on March 22, 2014, UTT. Keynote

Speaker: Dr. Patrick Lynch, Professor of Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Panelists

included: Dr. E. Sauter, UTHSC; Dr. R. Cali, MF Hospital and two Nurse Practitioners.

2014 Austin Elementary School, Tyler, TX, Read-a-thon focusing on Science, Technology,

Engineering and Math (STEM)

2014 Officiate area High Schools’ Soccer games

2008 Grace Community High school, How to Conduct Biological Science Experiments, Tyler, TX

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RECENT PRESENTATIONS at SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS

I. International (1)

Ali Azghani. 2013. Molecular Mechanism of Increased Tight Junction Permeability by Bacterial

Elastase. International Society for Hereditary Tumors, Cairns, AU.

II. National (5)

1. A.A. Komissarov, Ph. D., G. Florova, Ph.D., A. Azghani, Ph.D., S. Karandashova, M.S., K.

Stewart, B.S., A. Tvinnereim, Ph.D., P. Declerck, Ph.D., S. Idell, MD, PhD, 2014. Plasminogen

Activator Inhibitor 1 Targeting Interventions in the Treatment of Rabbits With Tetracycline-

Induced Pleurodesis. ATS 2014

2. A.A. Komissarov, Ph. D., G. Florova, Ph.D.1, A. Azghani, Ph.D., S. Karandashova, M.S., S.

Idell, MD, PhD. 2014. High Levels Of Extracellular DNA In Pleural Fluids of Animals And

Patients With Empyema Suppress Fibrinolysis. ATS 2014

3. Bidisha Pal and Dr. Ali Azghani. 2014. Mechanism of Pseudomonas Elastase- Induced

Cytoskeleton Remodeling. ASM, Texas Fall 2014 Meeting.

4. Spencer Shastid, Brenda Arras, and Ali Azghani. 2014. Comparison of the effects of liposomal vs.

free erythromycin on the pro-inflammatory responses of human alveolar epithelial cell. TriBeta

Regional meeting, OK. Ranked 3rd place.

5. Andrea Grzybowski, William Sorensen, Ali Azghani, Gary Heseltine MD, Sharon Phillips DVM.

2014. Hepatitis E Seroprevalence in Strayed, Owner-Surrendered, and Owned Canines; Smith

County Texas. James Steele Conference on Disease in Nature transmissible to man, May 2014.

STUDENT ADVISING

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Current UTT Graduate Students

1. Derek Draper, B.S. Biology – Research Topic: Mechanism of activation of Epidermal growth

factor receptor by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Elastase.

2. Beatriz Calvo, BS, Biology – Molecular mechanism of anti-inflammatory effects of Liposomal

erythromycin.

Completed Graduate Students at UTT

1. Bidisha Pal, MS, Biology, 2015. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Elastase Induces

Restructuring of Actin Cytoskeleton by Phosphorylation of RhoA Proteins.

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2. Brandon Beddingfield, MS, Biology, 2014. The role of PIUA, an outer membrane iron

receptor, in the pathogenesis of pseudomonas aeruginosa

3. Omar Castillo, M.S. Biology, 2013. Cellular mechanisms of parthenogenesis of

Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

4. Kourtney Neal, M.S. Biology, 2012. Human lung fibroblasts influence on pulmonary

inflammation.

5. Curtis Clark, M.S. Biology, 2009. Mechanism of epithelial barrier disruption by

Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase.

6. Ashraf Zahra, MD, 2003, UTHSCT – Student of the Graduate Program, General Surgery

Department, Al Azhar, University, Cairo, Egypt.

Graduate Committees – UTT/ UTHSC

MS in Biology

1. Kelsey Howard , 2016, Mechanism of Endothelial Protein c Receptor (epcr)- mediated Apoptosis in Mesothelioma Cells

2. Briana Echols, 2016, Effects of a Triterpenoid Antioxidant on IAV Induced Lung Inflammatory Response in Mice

3. Courtney Mitchell,2015, Organic Dust Induced Lung Inflammatory response in Mice

4. Han Chen, 2015, Characterization and Prevalence of Mycobacterium abscesses Subgroups in Cystic Fibrosis Pulmonary Infections”

5. Terry Ray Smith, 2015, Protective Mechanisms against Influenza Infection

6. Henry L. Schreiber IV, Advisor: Dr. Blake R. Bextine, 2011. Genetic analysis of the

prophage regions of a phytopathogenic bacterium.

7. Kaitlyn Pettingill, Advisor: Dr. Neil Ford. 2013. Physiological consequeneces of

compensatory growth: a look at snake species exhibiting sexual size dimorphism.

8. Jeremy Chamberlain, Advisor: Dr. Neil Ford. 2012. Stochastic life-history variation in

populations of western ribbon snakes (Thamnophisproximus) in East Texas

9. Katie Patrick, Advisor: Dr. John S. Placyk, Jr. 2012. Effects of the herbicide atrazine on

the behavior of the checkered gartersnake (Thamnophis marcianus).

12 | A z g h a n i - C V

Interdisciplinary Research/Advising

M.S. in Kinesiology

Andrea Grzybowski, MS, 2014. Hepatitis E Seroprevalence Study in

canis lupis familiaris and Associations to Human Owners, Smith County, Texas

MS in Computer Sciences

1. Sachar, P. MS, Computer Sciences, 2006. A Knowledge Base for Biological

Experiments.

2. Yarlagadda, B., MS, Computer Sciences, 2008. Artificial Neural Network-Based

Estimation for Pseudomonas aeruginosa Experiments

Graduate Committee – International

Laurentian University, Ontario, Canada

1. YiMei Jia, Ph.D. Biochemistry, 2009, Lipid-Based Nanoparticle Formulations for

Delivery of Clarithromycin for the Treatment of Pseudomonal Lung Infections in Cystic

Fibrosis.

2. Shawn Rossi, MS Biochemistry, 2004, Antimicrobial efficacy of a new antibiotic-loaded

poly (hydroxybutyric-co-hydroxyvalaric acid) controlled release system.

RECENT Undergraduate Research Students- Azghani Lab, 2014-

Andrew Griffin, Isaiha Reyna, Sarah Atwell, Izeah Douglas Vaughan, Molly Fisher,

Brenda Arras, Spencer Shastid, and Jesus , Espinoza, Lee Parker, and Molly Fischer

Mentoring Senior Students with their Scientific Communication Project

2014 – Present Antwaneta Wallace, Idah Mozwa, Trey Carter, Dominick Wright, Rachel Eldore Douglas Vaughan, Spencer Shastid, Lauren Downey, Adriana Sanders, and Erica Forester, E. Forester, A. Morris,

HONORS

1. President, American Society for Microbiology- July 2015-

2. Associate Editor, Drug Design & Delivery (Open Access, UK) – 2014-

3. National Academies Education Fellow in the Life Sciences- 2013

4. District Director, National Biological Honor Society (TriBeta) 2010-

5. President, North Texas Chapter of Associates of Clinical Research

Professionals (ACRP) 2007 - 2008

13 | A z g h a n i - C V

LEADERSHIP and PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Service Activities - University of Texas at Tyler

2014 New Core Workgroup

2014 Research Integrity Sub-Committee

213-14 Microbiology Search Committee

2014 - 2017 Faculty Senate, Senator

2013- Present Chair, Institutional Biosafety Committee

2013-2015 CAS Commencement committee

2011-2012 Undergraduate Council

2011-2014 Microbiology Search Committee, Chair

2009-2011 Faculty Senate, Senator

2010 Faculty, Math Camp for incoming freshmen

2008 Discover Science Summer Camp - Held a half day Biology session

2008-2011 UTT-Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

2007-Pesent Institutional Biohazard Committee, Chair.

2007-Present Advisor, KAPPA XI Chapter (UTT), Beta Beta Beta National Biological Society

2006 -2009 Information Technology Committee

2006-2007 Biology Faculty Search Committee

University of Texas Health Science Center, Tyler, TX

2005 - 2006 Chair, Governance committee, Research Faculty Assembly, UTHSCT.

2004 – 2005 Chair, Research Core, CF and Childhood Diseases Steering Committee,

UTHSC

2005 - 2006 Chair, Governance committee, Research Faculty Assembly, UTHSCT.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Leadership

2015- President, American Society for Microbiology, Texas Branch

14 | A z g h a n i - C V

2011- District Director, Biological Honor Society- Southcentral Region

2011 Committee member, Southwestern Association of Naturalists Meeting, UTT

2010 Director, Fall Meeting of the Texas Branch of American Society for

Microbiology, UTT

2010 Chair, Advancement Committee, TX ASM

2009 Madison Who’s Who, Executives and Professionals

2007- Advisor, KAPPA XI Chapter (UTT), Beta Beta Beta National Biological Society

2007 - 2008 President, North Texas Chapter of Associates of Clinical Research

Professionals (ACRP)

2002 - 2006 Chair, Newsletter Committee, ACRP, NTX

2001 - 2002 Chair, Membership Committee, ACRP, NTX

Membership

2014- Collaborative Group of Americas on Inherited Colorectal Cancer

2013- International Society for Gastrointestinal Hereditary Tumors

2008 - Human Anatomy and Physiology Society

1994 - Association of Clinical Research Professionals

1990 - American Thoracic Society

1979 - American Society for Microbiology; National and Texas chapter

EDITORSHIP

JOURNALS

Associate Editor, OA Drug Design & Delivery (Open Access, UK)

Ad-hoc Reviewer for

1. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol.

2. Microbes and Infections

3. Microbial Pathogenesis

4. Physiological Genomics

5. International Journal of Nanomedicine

6. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology

15 | A z g h a n i - C V

7. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (UK)

8. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

9. Trends In Microbiology (UK)

10. Journal of Inflammation Research

11. Journal of Infection and Drug Resistance

12. Annals of the American Thoracic Society

13. Molecular Medicine - The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, USA

14. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

BOOKS

Editor in Chief

Regulation of the Inflammatory Response in Health and Disease,

Research Signpost, 2011. Edited by A. Azghani and Edmund Miller.

Guest Editor

McKinley/O'Loughlin/Bidle. of Anatomy & Physiology: An Integrative

Approach, 1st Edition. 2011.

Jenkins Human Anatomy and Physiology, 3rd Edition, Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

RESEARCH GRANT REVIEWER FOR

2007 - American Association for Advancement of Science

2009 - American Heart Association

2007- American Association for the Advancement of Science

COMMUNITY SERVICE

1996 - Tyler Soccer Association, Officiate area High Schools UIL and

Recreational Soccer games.

1996 – 2005 Asthma Camp for Kids, Sponsored by UTHCT & ALA, Martial Arts

Instructor.

1996 - 2006 Tyler Bicycle Club, Vice President, Editorial (Exercise Physiology).

1997 - 1998 Tyler Chamber of Commerce, Chairman, PR Subcommittee.